"I perceive value, I confer value, I create value, I even create — or guarantee — existence. Hence, my compulsion to make “lists.” The things (Beethoven’s music, movies, business firms) won’t exist unless I signify my interest in them by at least noting down their names.” -Susan Sontag

Thursday, December 31, 2009

2009 Mixes

Disc 1

1 & 2. Song of the Century/21st Century Breakdown – Green Day. I’m not sure any album has ever opened stronger than the
first 4 songs on this album, so I’m including the first two here. I love this
opening. I love them.

3. Undisclosed Desires – Muse. Matt Bellamy’s description;
“This is something totally new for the band. It is influenced by contemporary
R'n'B and a little of the David Bowie album 'Ashes to Ashes'. It is a song
about love and the dark secrets that lovers share.”

8. My Delirium – Ladyhawke. Let’s hear it for the Kiwis!
Ladyhawke is the stage name of Phillipa Brown, who hails from Wellington. This
song is actually from last year, but I just keep listening to it.If you like this one, I also recommend
her latest single, Magic.

9. No One Sleeps When I’m Awake – The Sounds. I love them. I
played Dance With Me every single day on my way to work in Dublin. Plus, I
actually got this song on the night that Emily and I went dancing in Boston, so
bonus points for awesome there.

10. Telephone – Lady Gaga ft. Beyonce. THIS SONG ATE MY
BRAIN. I SERIOUSLY CAN’T STOP PLAYING THIS.(Also – her song Teeth cracks me up, because I feel like she’s
fucking with Twilight fans. I recommend checking it out.)

11. Blind – Hercules & Love Affair. Another one from
last year, in case you didn’t already have it. The singer is Antony Hegarty of
Antony And The Johnsons. But you can dance to this one!

13. Tik Tok – Kesha. I know I’ve sent this to some of you
already, but I laugh every time I hear “we kick em to the curb unless they look
like Mick Jagger.”

14. Heart Attack – Low vs. Diamond. I’ve heard this band
called stadium indie, which seems about right. There’s something anthemic about
this one that I really like.

15. Constructive Summer – The Hold Steady. This song is an
epic, summer driving sing-a-long jam. I like that it sounds both rough and
nostalgic.

17. Too Shy to Scream – AFI. I know. Proper mixes don’t
repeat bands. I don’t care. I want to dance every time I hear this song. I dare
you to listen to it without tapping your toes. Also, including it gives me the
opportunity to point out that Davey sang the second verse right to me when I
saw them in Providence. Trufax.

18. Resistance – Muse. I’ll include part of Ms. Manson’s
review, since she is far more poetic than I; “Everytime I listen to it I feel
like I am riding this mad wave of euphoria.....and I am sort of overtaken with
the overwhelming desire to sing along really REALLY loudly or burst into
tears.”

19.Sea WithinA Sea – The Horrors. Hypnotic, Depeche Mode-esque, I fell in love with it
because it reminded me of the Rip by Portishead (as it should because it turns
out it was produced by Geoff Barrow of Portishead).

Disc 2

1. Everloving – Moby.Not a 2009 song, but I discovered it wandering around the homepage of
one of my favorite writers (Mark Morford). Anyways, for months I kept opening
up his page in the background to listen to this song on repeat. I finally emailed
him to ask what it was and he was gracious enough to let me know. I love the
crashy bit that sounds like the ocean.

2. Daniel- Bat
for Lashes. I think my favorite description of this song is “sounds like
Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Rhiannon’ filtered through the weeping circuits of a
broken-hearted android.”

3. Pa Pa Power – Dead Man’s Bones. Because little children
are creepy. (And, yes, one of the singers is Ryan Gosling.)

4. Islands – The XX. I just got this song and really like
it. It’s understated and restrained and really beautiful.

5. In the Snow – Shirley Manson. So her stupid label refused
to continue Shirley’s album, claiming her demos were “too noir”. Because
apparently they thought they were dealing with Britney Spears. Idiots. Anyways,
while I hope for an Extraordinary Machine-type resurrection, here’s one of
those demos. Unfinished, but beautiful.

6. It’s All Your Fault - Pink. It’s from last year. But I
really liked this record, and I’m still listening to it.

7. Misery – Dana Fuchs. I love her. I got the chance to see
her live and she is just incredible. She played Janis Joplin on Broadway (and
Sadie in Across the Universe) and, as one review put it, she “sings like a
bastard.”

8. Stardust Kids – MGMT vs. David Bowie. This is brilliant. Whoever
thought of putting these together deserves a cookie.

11. 1901 – Phoenix. I’m getting annoyed that this song is
now on like 3 commercials, but it remains such a fun, boppy tune that I decided
to include it anyway.

12. Buttons – Sia. She’s an Aussie singer, formerly of Zero
7. This song burrowed into my brain. And the video is insane. (It’s just her,
putting weird crap on her head. It’s so bizarre. Youtube it.)

14. Becky – Be Your Own Pet. The band unfortunately broke
up, but hilarious, bitchy high school homicide lives forever.

15. Fuck You – Lily Allen. Out of a lot of great songs, this
one is my favorite. Particularly helpful for blasting when Maine or New York
vote down marriage rights. Rrrrr….

15. The Rip – Portishead. I love float-away-type songs, and
this one is gorgeous.

15. Don’t Stop Believing – Glee Cast. This one is for Alex
and Amy. I also really like the
It’s My Life/Confessions and Don’t Stand So Close/Young Girl mash ups. They’re
worth checking out.

16. Leeds United – Amanda Palmer. I could have SWORN I put
this on last year’s list, but apparently not. I adore this song. I found it on
Neil Gaiman’s blog, and it’s how I got hooked on her and the Dresden Dolls.
Anyways, now I’ve finally seen her live and I’m spending New Years at HER PARTY
and she’s brilliant and I love her. I love this song because it was recorded at
the tail end of Edinburgh Fringe and she blew out her voice on it and couldn’t
talk for 3 days after and it was only supposed to be a demo, but it turned out
so well they kept this version for the album. Yay.

17. The Snow Leopard – Shearwater. The other one I thought I
gave out last year. I think this song is heart-breakingly beautiful. I can’t
imagine how the singer holds some of those notes.